Reptilian Repetition in Trump's Diplomacy: Make threats, then talk. I don't mean to insult reptiles. But the Trump approach is what lower life forms and bullies do.
President Trump's approach to international relations, particularly with Iran and previously with North Korea, involves a consistent pattern of aggressive rhetoric followed by attempts at diplomatic engagement.
Trump's Playbook: Trump follows a predictable pattern where he uses aggressive language and threats before attempting diplomacy.
How Trump’s Iran strikes doomed his North Korea strategy
Trump, who sold himself as the answer to deadlock on the Korean peninsula, has sabotaged his chances of a breakthrough by attacking Iran.
This approach was seen in his dealings with North Korea, and it appears to be repeating with Iran.
A: Reptilian Repetition: The strategy relies on the repetitive use of similar tactics, banking on others' short attention spans to overlook the pattern. It starts with a threat.
Commentary Let’s get realistic on North Korea and Iran
There’s a common thread that runs through the Trump administration’s approaches to North Korea and Iran. It’s a lack of realism about what can be achieved with available leverage.
By making repeated threats, Trump aims to create a familiar dynamic that he can manipulate to his advantage.
B: Pivot to making demands. In 2017, after threatening "total destruction" against North Korea, Trump became the first U.S. president to meet with a North Korean leader.
100 Days of the Trump Administration’s Foreign Policy: Global Chaos, American Weakness, and Human Suffering.
In only 100 days, the Trump administration has wrought chaos around the world and weakened the United States’ place in it, leaving the American people and billions of others worldwide to pay the price
Despite the lack of substantive outcomes, North Korea gained international legitimacy without giving up its nuclear weapons.
C: Get the opponent to concede or repeat from step A. Trump's words are designed to provoke a reaction, and potentially force the other party into backing down due to the threat.
America Revived
The United States faces the most dangerous international circumstances since the end of World War II, and perhaps in its history.
This simple strategy attempts to use the specter of force to achieve diplomatic goals.
Trump is unfamiliar with :
Quote
Do not repeat the tactics which have gained you one victory, but let your methods be regulated by the infinite variety of circumstances
Trump's recent actions towards Iran follow a well-established pattern that he has used before with North Korea. His aggressive rhetoric and threats are not accidental but rather part of a calculated strategy aimed at forcing his opponents into concessions through the perceived strength of "big talk."
Which from an American President or any other mature adult is childish and stupid. It is what bullies do. It is also too kind to refer to the strategy as calculated since it is only a pattern that repeats with little variation. A pattern that is easily seen by an opponent, violating another maxim from 'The Art Of War."